SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 466P

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.467 carries it from 2.156 AU at perihelion out to 5.932 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 207
Orbital Period · P
8.13 yr
v(q)
24.6 km/s
v(Q)
8.9 km/s
TJ
2.81
Eccentricity · e
0.4669

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.156 AU) and its farthest (5.932 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.776 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 8.13 yr (2,970 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 4.044 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.467) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 12.24° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 24.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.9 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.81, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for PANSTARRS, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 207 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5491 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 1 means the orbit is very well determined, leaving only a small uncertainty in the future ephemeris.

About these computed values

Orbital periods, perihelion and aphelion speeds, and diameter estimates on this page are computed by SpaceAtlas from the JPL SBDB orbital elements. They are derived quantities, not values copied from the source catalogue.

Orbital Parameters

Semi-Major Axis
4.044 AU
Eccentricity
0.4669
Perihelion
2.156 AU
Aphelion
5.932144 AU
Inclination
12.24°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459449.5
Mean Anomaly
285.06°

Orbit diagram

The Sun sits at the focus (orange). Earth's orbit is the grey circle at 1 AU. The red dot marks the object's position at the catalog epoch.

3D orbit (interactive)

Drag to rotate; scroll or pinch to zoom. The Sun is at the focus (orange), Earth's orbit is the grey ring at 1 AU, and the red dot marks the object's current position.

Close approaches

No close approaches to Earth are currently on record for this object.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
— km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.54914
Condition
1
Orbit ID
—
Data source: NASA JPL Small-Body Database . Orbital periods, perihelion and aphelion speeds, and diameter estimates on this page are computed by SpaceAtlas from the JPL SBDB orbital elements. They are derived quantities, not values copied from the source catalogue.

Keep exploring

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.